Radio system request tabled

June 20, 2006|by RICHARD F. BELISLE / Staff Correspondent

CHARLES TOWN, W.Va. - The Jefferson County Commission Thursday tabled action on a request by fire police and emergency service personnel across the county to beef up the county's emergency radio system temporarily until a new one goes on line a year from now.

The issue is safety for police, firefighters and emergency service personnel because of "dead time" on the air during emergencies caused by the existing inadequate system, Chief Donald Buracker of the Harpers Ferry (W.Va.) Police Department told the commission. Buracker said he was speaking on behalf of the other departments.

Several commissioners agreed that something has to be done to protect county personnel in the interim. They said they want to discuss the issue with the county's director of emergency services before reaching a decision.